§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures exist for hon. Members to discover how the £3 million of public money from the Community budget being distributed in 1978 to the political groups in the European Assembly for preparations for direct elections is actually being apportioned and to monitor how much is being received by British political parties; how such sums are being spent in the United Kingdom; and what arrangements exist for the House of Commons to monitor such expenditure of public moneys.
§ Mr. JuddThe apportionment of this money will be decided by the European Assembly. In 1977, 2 million units of account were similarly allocated, to be divided amongst the political parties in proportion to the number of their representatives in the Assembly, but none of this money was spent. It will be for the British political parties to decide what information to publish on their receipts and expenditure. Any expenditure on candidates standing in direct elections will have to conform to the provisions of the Representation of the People Act.